Question on Electric Scooter

[itsdisneytime]

Hello Disney Friends:

I hope you all continue to be well. I am going to be in Magic Kingdom the beginning of August. I need to rent a scooter. Unfortunately I cannot rent off site as I have no way to transport it. Im staying at a resort off site & renting a car.
Two things im wondering:

1. If it starts raining, are there rules about driving the scooter in the rain?

2. Do the scooters at MK really go much slower than the red ones you see rented off site?

I know renting at parks is subject to availability and more costly. I wish there were a way around it.

Thanks in advance

 

[Mrsjvb]

There are no rules. However, a shower cap or plastic covering of some sort is advisable to cover the controls. On occasion, I have seen CM rush to cover ECVs with tarps when parked at restaurants that are not under cover. But not at rides if you leave it in stroller parking

if you do not already use one regularly, you want it to be slower. And you shouldn’t be going faster than a normal walk anyway

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Hello Disney Friends:

I hope you all continue to be well. I am going to be in Magic Kingdom the beginning of August. I need to rent a scooter. Unfortunately I cannot rent off site as I have no way to transport it. Im staying at a resort off site & renting a car.
Two things im wondering:

1. If it starts raining, are there rules about driving the scooter in the rain?

2. Do the scooters at MK really go much slower than the red ones you see rented off site?

I know renting at parks is subject to availability and more costly. I wish there were a way around it.

Thanks in advance

how are you getting to MK. it can be quite a walk from handicapped parking area plus slightly up hill. no trams from that area of parking lot. plus you have to get inside the gate to rent one. also you can not send someone ahead and have that person bring it out to you as rental ECVs are not allowed outside of gate. yes they are slower but if not used to it is a good idea other than up hill areas. shower cap is a good idea to cover controls but in case of hard rain you are going to want to find an area undercover to wait storm out. you can take a off site rental on all Disney transportation and there are ones that come apart and fit in trunk of car. have a friend at work who owns her own that comes apart. she is able to do by herself and she is not a big person at all

 

[kaytieeldr]

how are you getting to MK. it can be quite a walk from handicapped parking area plus slightly up hill.

Not just that, but then up a ramp to the monorail then down a ramp, across the plaza; or down onto the ferry, across the entire length of the boat, out the other end, and across the plaza

no trams from that area of parking lot.

No trams at all during initial reopening - and cars parked only every other space, for social distancing.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Not just that, but then up a ramp to the monorail then down a ramp, across the plaza; or down onto the ferry, across the entire length of the boat, out the other end, and across the plaza

No trams at all during initial reopening - and cars parked only every other space, for social distancing.

as far as I have seen never had trams from handicapped area even before shutdown

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just so you know, some of the scooters you rent off-site can be broken down and put in the trunk of your car for transport back and forth to the parks. The one I rent is the Go-Go Sport from Gold Mobility (though others may have it too). It only takes a few seconds for the break-down (into 4-5 parts) and put back together.

 

[Bete]

You haven't stated if you are alone on this trip or not. If you have a companion I would absolutely rent offsite. Not just because it's just cheaper but also you can use the scooter around your resort and the parking lots at Disney. The trek from parking lot to entrance of Disney is not an easy task. There are videos you can watch; so, you can see how the scooters come apart and get put back together. You can visit a local mobility store in your area and they would demo the procedure if they think you may buy one. Sometimes if you have a small car trunk you may have to use the back seat of the car to fit it all. If you can use a smaller scooter it should work for you. If you need a larger scooter due to weight limitations then you have to figure out all the dimensions to make sure it works. Larger scooters are harder to handle. Smaller scooters are meant for one person to handle, but I don't find it to be too much fun in and out of a car without a helper. SUVs make transporting a scooter easier.

If you rent an offsite scooter you have to charge the battery each night. It's not hard to do it, but you have to remember to do it. Also, conserve your battery power by shutting it off when you can. Don't leave anything valuable in the scooter when you do a ride. You may want to decorate your scooter to make it easier to spot.

If you insist on renting a scooter at the park and you have a companion to help there should be available Disney wheelchairs (unless the virus has stopped the this service) in the parking lot to help get to the entrance. They can be hard to come by and hard to find them. If you have a handicap placard bring it with you; it will get you closer to the entrance for parking. If you have to walk find railings or walls or whatever to brace yourself if you need it. Take your time.

For rain times some people use a poncho and cover themselves and the scooter together at the same time. Using a shower cap over the electric part of the scooter is protection, too. Most of the time it's good to pay attention to the forecast and look up at the sky periodically. If it gets dark outside I would seek shelter. Find a store or exhibit area or show/movie to watch or go eat while it rains.

Go early to the park to make sure you get a Disney scooter. I feel there should be less of problem right now with getting a Disney scooter, but you never know.

 

[itsdisneytime]

Hey you all! Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I've been coming to Disney for years but my weight has gone up dramatically due to thyroid removal (and its left me very intolerant to the heat). Im truthfully only going because my daughter was a graduating Senior this year & we have planned to take her cap and gown pictures in front of the castle with or without the mask required.
You all are very wise savvy travelers and I appreciate your input. Ill give you more info to help you help me.

The scooter is because im worried im too out of shape for this heat. In December 2019 I walked in cooler weather (and just took it slow). Now I am taking the scooter to not torture myself or my daughter (she ia fit & fast!) LOL.

My 18 year old daughter is going with me. I have a timeshare that's not Disney property which I am staying at. Its 10 minutes away from the pay for parking area, but I do not have the luxury of busses from there. I am flying in & renting a midsized suv. It doesn't have a chair lift and the one I need isn't able to fold up and go in a trunk. That one has a 250 weight limit * I am 307

If there are no teams now, how are people getting to the boat or monorail terminal of they aren't at a Disney property which provides busses over? They are just walking up from the lot? I've walked from handicapped parking before at MK but I was in 70 degree weather & no mask.

Should I uber over to avoid a lengthy walk into MK? I'm so confused about this tram thing. I know there was lots of construction going on pre Covid19...and that had already made trams different into MK .... but now with Coronavirus precautions. I know alllll things are different. Im just trying to help my daughter get a little magic & not ruin our time because im in pain or miserably hot. Thanks again for taking the time to give me input. Im far from a pro.

 

[kaytieeldr]

as far as I have seen never had trams from handicapped area even before shutdown

I know. I'm not going to apologize for providing additional information which can affect handicapped persons without a plate/placard.

If it gets dark outside I would seek shelter. Find a store or exhibit area or show/movie to watch or go eat while it rains.

But also look at the clock. Every day, approaching darkness means, at some point, night is approaching. Only some (many summer/early fall, and occasional random) days does it also indicate rain.

My 18 year old daughter is going with me. I have a timeshare that's not Disney property which I am staying at. Its 10 minutes away from the pay for parking area, but I do not have the luxury of busses from there. I am flying in & renting a midsized suv. It doesn't have a chair lift and the one I need isn't able to fold up and go in a trunk. That one has a 250 weight limit * I am 307

You need to expand your search. At least two of the companies listed in the FAQ offer scooters that can be disassembled and transported in a car, and have higher weight limits than you need.

If there are no teams now, how are people getting to the boat or monorail terminal of they aren't at a Disney property which provides busses over?

Right now, at this moment? Parks are closed. Nobody is going/getting to any park until at least Friday.

Should I uber over to avoid a lengthy walk into MK?

Rideshare and taxi have to drop off and pick up at the TTC.

 

[mamabunny]

I think if you are determined to rent a Parks ECV from Disney you need to also know that those are first come, first served; once they are all rented out, you can be put on a waiting list for one to return, but there is no guarantee of when that might happen.

Use a poncho to cover yourself and the scooter when you leave it - that way you don't come back to a wet seat!

Since you will be driving, and there will not be trams to use, you will need to either bring along a manual wheelchair that a family member can push you in, or you can bring along a Rollator (which is a walker with a seat that folds) to get from the parking lot to the Wheelchair/ECV/Stroller rental counter. Even with a handicapped placard, it can be quite the hike, so be prepared. (and FYI - wheelchairs, scooters, Rollators, walkers, crutches, etc. all fly for free and do NOT count against your luggage allowance on all US air carriers)

I don't know how long you all are intending to spend at WDW (how many days in total) but if I were in your shoes, I might consider using my timeshare for the portion of my time in Orlando that was *not* Disney-centric, and getting a room on property for the Disney day(s).

That way, you can rent in the Parks, but take the bus from the Resort hotel which has the potential of saving you a great deal of walking/riding vs. the timeshare/parking lot conundrum.

The goal is to get home from your vacation *more* rested and relaxed (and hopefully in less pain) than when you left...

 

[LovesTimone]

Not sure the name of the company... I will have to ask my friend. She injured herself at one of the Disney run events, and they had to rent a scooter for the rest of their trip, they were staying at Orange Lakes. I am pretty sure someone there helped them with the rental company, and they delivered to Orange Lakes. Her DH was able to fold it down, and put it in the back of the SUV that they rented for the week...

As well you might be able to rent a SUV with drive on attachment for the scooter... I don't know if this is possible but you might want to ask to see if its something that might be available.

As well as another poster said... You might be better off renting something at home, and flying with it, as the airlines don't charge for it. This way you can use it from start to finish of your trip... With that you might want to rent a larger SUV that the scooter will fit into the back of easily...

As far as covering the scooter, you might want to see if the rental place offer some type of cover for it. We have used lots of things to cover the strollers when our DD's were using them, as well as now the Grandkids, the best thing I have found is a cheap clear shower curtain, I picked them up at the dollar tree, or dollar general even wal-mart for under 5 bucks and used a couple of clothes pins or chip clips to secure the curtain.. worked soooo goood!!!! ... then threw it away on the last day.. I used one of those giant ziploc to put it in, along with a shammy, and you can hang everything over the shower rod in the hotel room to dry...

Oh I did give one away one morning to another family just checking in, they were unpacking their car and trying to get everything together, and we were packing up our car, before we headed into the park one last time, and we were not taking the stroller with us. It was starting to sprinkle lightly, and she said to her DH, how are we going to keep the stroller dry... I said I have something that will work for you... I went back to the room, and grabbed the shower curtain, and shammy in the giant ziploc, and came back... I said this will work perfect... she was like really smart... I told her I got the idea from all the wonderful people here on the DIS...

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not sure the name of the company...

There are a number of reputable, long-existing, enjoyed-byDIS-members, listed in the pinned WDW FAQ thread at the top of this forum.

 

[Selket]

Should I uber over to avoid a lengthy walk into MK? I'm so confused about this tram thing. I know there was lots of construction going on pre Covid19...and that had already made trams different into MK .... but now with Coronavirus precautions. I know alllll things are different. Im just trying to help my daughter get a little magic & not ruin our time because im in pain or miserably hot. Thanks again for taking the time to give me input. Im far from a pro.

I'm not up to speed on what the park transportation will be when the reopening happens but.... I think if you take a taxi or uber to the MK that it leaves you at the TTC. I'm not sure overall that would be less walking. Disney sometimes had wheelchairs out in transportation areas that one could use to get to the park entrance but not sure if they still do...or will do it when they re-open.

One idea could be to rent a regular wheelchair off-site that you could have for all the days of your trip - I think those are not as expensive to rent. You could carry it in your rental SUV to wherever you park and your daughter could use it to help you get to the MK where the rental scooters are. I think you could park your rental WC in a space designated for WC and/or stroller parking and leave it for the day (perhaps get insurance on it from the vendor just for peace of mind).

I have not seen the rental portable ECVs that Katyieeldr mentions that have the higher weight limits that would work for you. I did in the past rent the portable ones that you've probably seen that go up to 250. In my experience, the biggest issue with those and weight is that the lighter you are, the longer the battery would last. My weight fluctuated a bit (and I was under 200lbs) but I eventually moved to renting a regular ECV (off-site) because I could get an entire day on the battery vs. having to charge it once or twice while in the parks. I suggest looking at those companies again and calling them to ask. Perhaps you could get the portable ECV and just have to charge it more often? If the company advertises a portable one with a weight limit that works for you, that is probably the way to go - just be prepared that you may need to stop and charge it. If you are able to rent a unit from off-site, you'd have it for anything else you do (like Disney Springs for a day, etc.).

I also had my thyroid removed - when I was 13 years old! So I have lived most of my life without one. I'm also very picky about the temperature (just ask my family - haha!). I do tend to vacation in Florida in the summer and manage by going in the stores to cool off and attractions that are indoors. If you can book a sit-down dinner inside and maybe lunch too - this will help although it will eat into your park time since the hours are already so limited. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[piccolopat]

Others may be able to comment on whether this is possible, but you might want to Uber or taxi to one of the monorail resorts. Depending on which one, you'll have the option of taking the monorail or a boat and have a place to rest before continuing on if that is needed. It's also a reportedly short walk from the Contemporary to MK but I don't know if that's a bit further than you can handle at this time. I would also like to suggest that you look into Weightwatchers. I do this online and have lost just over 100 pounds over the past 21 months (plus 30 in the 5 years before that). I am amazed at how much more energy I have and how my joint pain has improved. I'm almost 62 and have some underlying health challenges am found that eating healthy on WW has greatly improved my life. I only have 25 pounds left to goal. It's only a bit painful when I look back at pictures when I was 130 pounds heavier. Best of luck and I hope you enjoy your trip.

 

[kaytieeldr]

One idea could be to rent a regular wheelchair off-site that you could have for all the days of your trip - I think those are not as expensive to rent.

You're right. Wheelchairs are much less expensive and, also right, they can be folded and transported in any trunk or back seat.

I have not seen the rental portable ECVs that Katyieeldr mentions that have the higher weight limits that would work for you

Walker has a four wheel one that goes up to 450 pounds and which the site says is easy to disassemble. Gold Mobility has a three wheeler and a four wheeler with a 325 limit, both of which the website says can be disassembled. Those are the only two sites I checked.

 

[Simba's Mom]

By the way, regarding scooters and rain-considering the weather in Orlando, the sudden showers, you might want to consider assuming there'll be rain whenever you leave your scooter for more than an hour, like if you go in to eat and park your scooter outside. I learned that the hard way and came back to a scooter with a soaking wet seat. The second time, I felt much better as the rain got caught by my poncho. Both times, there were no rain clouds in sight. And one time I I rode my scooter from the other end of AK out to the bus stop in the pouring rain, passing people hopping barefoot thru large bodies of water from the rain. Based on my experience, the scooter was fine as long as I kept a clear shower cap over the tiller and drove with my hands under it.

 

[itsdisneytime]

Thank you all! Im just truly blown away and so so thankful that you would take the time to search up info and give me wise tips and suggestions. I am definitely going to rent a scooter off site. Had I not asked you savvy travelers, I would have never thought to look elsewhere. I had contacted Buena Vista Rentals originally * but their options for my Weight were not easily transported. You all surely never disappoint with the info. It truly proves to me that I absolutely benefit from having other people look at my situation & give me guidance, especially here amongst "my people". I am going to be able to relax now and be prepared (for what I can control) and I cannot say THANK YOU enough.
Also, thank you for the weight watchers tip - im not good with quoting the comments from my phone (lol) but congratulations on your weight loss (original poster) and I pray you have continued success with your weight loss journey. Perhaps I will focus my energy on looking into W.W upon return from our trip. Im so ready to feel as great as you sound when you speak about your energy levels!

I'll post a picture of my daughter in front of the castle (God willing). Thanks again & I hope you all have Magical Days and continue to be well

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thank you all! Im just truly blown away and so so thankful that you would take the time to search up info and give me wise tips and suggestions. I am definitely going to rent a scooter off site. Had I not asked you savvy travelers, I would have never thought to look elsewhere. I had contacted Buena Vista Rentals originally * but their options for my Weight were not easily transported. You all surely never disappoint with the info. It truly proves to me that I absolutely benefit from having other people look at my situation & give me guidance, especially here amongst "my people". I am going to be able to relax now and be prepared (for what I can control) and I cannot say THANK YOU enough.
Also, thank you for the weight watchers tip - im not good with quoting the comments from my phone (lol) but congratulations on your weight loss (original poster) and I pray you have continued success with your weight loss journey. Perhaps I will focus my energy on looking into W.W upon return from our trip. Im so ready to feel as great as you sound when you speak about your energy levels!

I'll post a picture of my daughter in front of the castle (God willing). Thanks again & I hope you all have Magical Days and continue to be well

glad you have been able to rent offsite and have a great trip. even though your daughter is older take lots of pictures

 

[Groot]

Hello Disney Friends:

I hope you all continue to be well. I am going to be in Magic Kingdom the beginning of August. I need to rent a scooter. Unfortunately I cannot rent off site as I have no way to transport it. Im staying at a resort off site & renting a car.
Two things im wondering:

1. If it starts raining, are there rules about driving the scooter in the rain?

2. Do the scooters at MK really go much slower than the red ones you see rented off site?

I know renting at parks is subject to availability and more costly. I wish there were a way around it.

Thanks in advance

1. It’s wiser to keep the scooter out of the rain so the motors & electronics don’t get wet/ruined.

2. Yeah, Disney SPEED RESTRICTS their scooters to be slower and “safer” than what you would get if you should rent from an outside company.

 

[Bete]

There are heavier, portable scooters like the Pride Victory 10 (weight limit of 400 pounds) that can be off site rented. This scooter has two batteries and you should be pretty safe that it will run all day without a problem. A few off site rental companies make it impossible for you to break down this scooter; so, you have to be careful who you will rent from for this scooter. Some companies don't want you to break it down. This scooter weighs 162 pounds and the heaviest one piece is 61 pounds. My husband in his seventies at the time and myself in my sixties managed to transport this scooter ourselves in our car. It's not easy to do it but it's possible. You could go to a local mobility store and see first hand how this may work for you. Usually, there are store demo scooters that they will let you handle hopefully. It may not be something you want to do day in, day out. At the beginning of the day this is an easier task to do than at the end of your day when you're more tired.

Mamabunny already mentioned you could rent and use a wheelchair or rollator to get to the park from the parking lot. You can leave either item with the park scooter rental. Another option if you trust your daughter to drive alone, is she could perhaps leave you off at the drop off area which is closer to the park entrance. This is probably your easiest answer. Your daughter needs to remember where the car is parked; make a note of it someplace on your phone or whatever. Now, you can go rent a park scooter.

It sounds like you will be a first time scooter user. Ride queues have a lot of turns that can be a little hard to manuever. The ride Soarin' in Epcot requires you to use an elevator with your scooter to get down to the lower level where the ride is located. Some rides you have to transfer to a wheelchair or walk the ride queue on your own accord. You will have to park your scooter to do a ride. You may want to get to the ride and let your daughter park the scooter.

Enjoy your trip and make great memories.